Filling machine



April 1940- R. B. BAGBY FILLING MACHINE Filedjlarch 2, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l N. 'ENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

April 2, 1940. R. B. BAGBY 2,195,441

\ FILLING cums Filed March 2, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. /2 5.5a 19,

BY flJ ATTORNEY.

April 2, 1940. R, B, B

FILLING MACHINE Filed March 2, 1939 a shuts-sheet s INVE-NTOR. fHn/p/z 15 5091 9 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES. OFFICE FILLING MACHINE! Ralph 1e. Bagby, mansio in. application March 2,1939, Serial No; 259,321

' 16 Claims (i. 226+107) Y My invention relates-to apparatus for filling re-,

ceptacles, and particularly to a multiple filling machine in' which a large number of receptacles are-simultaneously filled. 1

In the manufacture of chocolate covered ice cream or other bars,such as popsi'ckles and similarbars in which a wood stick'isincorporated in number of such confections that are sold has.

calledffor the-design of a filling machine that will automatically deliver-into the receptacles in a tray, an exact quantity. of ice cream or fruit juices and to do so at high speed. i

1 Thedevelopment of a machine of thischarac- 'ter has'involved more than the merepduplication of. known filling units, since thespace withinwhich the various elements such as the cylinders;

l pistonsand valves are to be located islimited, and

it is impracticaltoconstruct a machine in which thegdischarge passages from the valvest'o the fillill nozzles vary greatly in length. The resistance to travel; in the passages and nozzlesisconsiderable and where the outlet passages are of greatly difierentlength the filling action will beuneven. In the construction ,here, disclosed, I have overcome the objections to multiple filling devices of this ,kind by locating the pistons onoppositesides of a-central point', over' which the filling hopper is disposed, then locating the, filling valves which are theiorm of: elongated plugs in close but staggered relation. In this way I am able to provide a. machine that will fill twenty-four-receptwclessimultaneously, all within a small compass .and so arranged as to continuously and rapidly fill the containers, formed asa part of trays,- the only. manual work being that of keeping trays suppliedtothe slideway. v Another improvement of importance relates to .the construction of the stroke-adjusting means I for the piston. While it is old to provide a screw" .for varying thelengthof a slot in the connectingrod, I believeit to .benew to provide'means that will insure that the pistons cannot have a longer stroke than desiredjdue to hydrostatic pressure tending to move them farther out than intended'or desired by the operator.

' The; invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in-

Fig. 2 isa plan .viewwith the hopper-in section;

or frame indicated generally by the numeral l0 having supporting legs H and a platform I2providi-ng 'a slidewayin the form of angle irons l3 to receive'wthe trays M. These trays are sheet metal structures having therein twenty-four oblong receptacles, as best shown in Fig. 2. The apparatus provided with two transverse shafts 15-46 geared together for operation in unison and driven by a pinion connected to a motor, not shown.

Connectedto the overhung ends of the shafts l5'-lli and located outside of the frame- IO are cams. l 'l -,l'8that actona rocker arm" I!) pivoted at '20 to the frame and operating a link 2 I. The

upper end of-the link is connected to and serves to oscillate ay'gear sector 22'and, through-a link 23,.aduplicate'gear sector 24. These sectors, respectively, engage sm'allergear' sectors 25'-'-2i6and 21-928, all secured to the outer ends of' plug valves 29, .30, 3!, 32, asbest shown in Fig. 2-, each of these valve plugs having spaced openings throughout their length for .connectingsthe hopper 33 to the'interiors. of the cylinders, indicated generally by the numeral 34, there being twentyiourjof said cylinders, all locatedwithinzthe cast-. ing and staggered; that isgalternate cylinders are. located in .diflerent vertical and horizontal planes; thatis, the upper series voficylindersare in ahorizontal plane above thelower series and likewisethe u er and lowercylinders are in different vertical'planes. In another positionof the valves 29 to- 32 the cylinders are placed in-communication with the dischargevoutlets, four of which are shown, in Fig. 3, which outlets comried onthe superstructure 35a forming a part of the, main frame l0;

It will be noted that byreason of the valve and cylinder arrangement shown, Iam able to concentrate -the parts within a ver'ysmall space and thus -reduce-the length of the discharge outlets and render them substantially. uniform to length. By staggering'the position'ot the cylinders and staggering the spacing of. the valves as shown in Fig. 3, the operating parts are confined" within a small space at the center of the machine. This does not interfere with the ready removal of the valve plugs for cleaning, as required.

Each of the cylinders is provided with a piston, indicated generally by the numeral31, a link 38 serving to connect the piston to a cross-head 39, each cross-head at the respective sides of the machine being connected to twelve pistons. The cross-head is mounted to slide on rods 40, the inner ends of which are fixed in bosses carried by the casting 35 and being operated through a link 4!, bell crank 42 and connecting rod 43. Mounted on the lower end of the rod 43 is a block 44 having a slot 45 therein, adapted to receive the pin 46 of an operating arm41. The arm 41 is oscillated through a link 48 which in turn is operated by the crank pin 49 arranged on the cam H or IE as the case may be.

It will be noted that the lower series of six cylinders on each side are arranged to extend inwardly to within a distance from their plug valves which is the same as that of the upper series of cylinders; also that the pistons ofthe lower series arelocated farther inwardly to a corresponding degree. Thus the connecting rods 33a for the lower pistons are longer than the rods for the upper pistons. Thus all the pistons travel to the full end of their inward stroke, all adjustment being in the extent of backward travel.

Threaded within the block 44 is a screw member 56 adapted to be turned by a handwheel 5i and held in position by a lock nut 52. This serves to vary the length oftheslot 35 and thus to change the stroke of the piston. I have, however, provided an abutment or stop 53 that is engaged by the lower end of the screw ill, the screw coming into contact with the abutment atthe low point in the stroke, regardless of the adjustment of the screw in the connecting rod. The effect of the adjustment of thescrew is to vary the position of the connecting rod but not of the screw, the length of the stroke being positively limited in both directions. This, avoids the. difficultyof displacement of the piston dueto hydrostatic pressure, particularly when the material is so heavy that pressure of some kind is necessary in the hopper in order to 'bringabout adequate delivery.

The means for advancing the trays comprises a pair-of. bars 54, best shown inFig. 4, having attached thereto at proper intervals the dogs 55 operated in the usual manner. That is, as the bars 54 are reciprocated the dogs give way to pass behind an oncoming tray, .thento catch the tray and carry it along. .However, at the entrance end-that. is. atthe. leftas viewed in Fig. 1--the dog 55 has attached to its pivot pin-56 a rubber segment 5.? that, bears against the flange of the guide member [3. asthe result of which the dog is positively moved to open and closed ,position as the slide moves backward and forward. Thus on the backward'movement the,dog is turned inwardly permitting a tray to be slid into posi-,

tion rather than requiring lifting, over the dog.

The bars 54 are cross-connected at the right hand end of the machine by means of a crossbar 58 having a pin 59 which operates ina slot 60. An

arm 6! pivoted at 62 has a slot 63 in; its upper end which engages thepin 59, the arm being oscillated through a link 54 connected to a crank .85 mounted on the inner end of the shaft it. 'Thus the trays are advanced one step for eachv cycle of the machine. 1

Since it is desirable that the. trays containing the. openings to be filled should be raised and loweredinaccordance with the rate at which i material from the hopper.

Themachine is compact, relatively simple in.

the material is filled. I provide a platform 66, best shown in Fig. 4, underlying the space directly beneath the nozzles, thisplatform being raised through plungers Bl cross-connected and operated through a link 68 and the long arm 69 of a bell crankpivoted at 751. connected to a'coil spring 72 which serves as the motivating force for elevating the platform and its contained tray. The platform is lowered to the position shown in thedrawings through-the cam '53, which bears on a roller carried'by the arm 69. The cam is so shaped as to bring about the lowering of the tray in accordance with the rate of delivery of the material to the receptacles; forthe remaining considerable distance necessary to bring it out of the plane of the nozzles, the

latter motion will be as rapid as possible.

The operation has been described in connection with the description of the apparatus. It may be helpful, however, to explain that the so called trays are, in] fact, molds, each containingtwenty-four cavities in thelower half, the wall extended upwardly for a considerable distance being merely for protection against splashing of,

the refrigerating material, such as brine, within which thetrays are placed in order that the molded material may be quicklyfrozen within the molds. However, before the material is frozen a frame carrying the requisite number of sticks or handles is lowered in such manner that the sticks project into the semi-fluid material as theresult, of which the sticks are frozen in place in the molds. After freezing, the lower portion of the trays or. mold is inserted, momentarily 'in warm water to loosen the frozen, confection, whereupon the twenty-four bars are lifted out through the agency of theframe carrying the sticks, the bars being then dipped in chocolate, cooled and wrapped.

The operation of the machine is automatic, each tray or series of moldsv being raised so that the nozzle 36 enters the rectangular cavities shown in Fig; 2, whereupon the pistons are all simultaneously, forced inwardly, ejecting-the quantity. of material theretofore drawn into the cylinders, the tray being lowered as the material 1s supplied. .While'this operation has been going on the bars 54 have been traveling rearwardly' and asthe tray is filled and-lowered to its position of rest the dogs 55! have reengaged, a series of trays and the entire series ismoved forward p1ac-' ing. another tray beneath the filling nozzles: While this movement has been taking place, the pistons havebeen returned to their outer positions, drawing into :the cylinders 'a quantity of of course,'that while I .have describedthe appa-- ratus as designedfora particular operation, it

is equallywell adapted for multiple filling opera- I tions of all sorts and I do not wish to be limited except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

, 1. ,In a multiple-outlet Innin machine, "the combination with a hopper and filling nozzles, of

a plurality of valve plugs in parallel arrangement, each having a plurality of valve openings therein, said plugs, in transverse seetion,.b eing arranged so, that two. thereof staggered, both .hori- The short arm "H is manufacture of 1 zontally. andv vertically, relative to two others of' an-abutment acting as a stop for said screwmeme aid u s.

2. In: a; multiple-outlet filling machine, the

combination with a hopper and filling nozzles of a plurality, of valve plugs in parallel arrangement, each having a plurality of valve openings therein, means for actuating said plugs inunison, said plugs, in transverse section, being arranged so that two thereof are staggered, both horizontally: and vertically, relative to twoothers of I said plugs.

3; In a filling machine, the combination of a valve body, at least four parallel, elongated plug valve members in said body, each plug having a plurality of valve openings therein, said plugs being arranged, in transverse section, so that two thereef arein the same, horizontal plane} andtwo. others are in a horizontal planezbeneath the first two-and in different vertical planes; from said first two, and means for actuating said valve members.

4. In afilling machine,the combination of; a valve body,- at least four parallel, elongated plug valve members in said body, each plughaving a 1 plurality of, valve openings therein, said plugs being arranged, in transverse section, so that two thereof are in the same horizontalplane and two.

others are in a horizontal plane beneath the first two and in difierent vertical planes from said first two, and means for actuating; said valve members'in unison.

5. In a filling machine, the combination of a valve body, a plurality. of. valve plugs mounted therein and'arranged in parallelism, each of said .plugshaving a gear sector on an overhung end,

a single gear sector engaging two of the gear sectors on said plugs, and a cam for oscillating said operating gear sector for rotating said plugs in unison. I

6. In a filling machine, the combination with a valve body of at least four valve plugs seated in said body and rotatable therein, each of said.

plugs having a gear sector on an outer end, two

interconnected operating gear sectorsyeach of which engages two of the sectors on the plugs,

said operating gear sectors being interconnected, V

and a cam for oscillating said operating sectors,

'7. In a filling machine, the combination of a body having two series of opposed cylinders bored therein, said member having a plurality of transverse bores and plug valves therein, each plug having openings registering with the cylinder bores in said member, pistons in said cylinders, a cross-head at each side of the member con necting all of'the pistons, bell cranks for operating said cross-heads, connecting rods for operating the bell cranks, means for operating said connecting rods, and means for varying the effective length of said connecting rods.

8,. In a filling machine, the combination of a piston and a valve, a connecting rod for operating the piston, an arm for operating the connecting rod, said arm engaging in a slot in the connecting rod, the length of which slot is variable through stroke of the connecting rod in one direction at any position of the screw member in the connecting rod.

9. In a filling machine, the combination of a cylinder and piston and a connecting rod for operating the piston, said rod having a slot, a screw member defining the length of the slot and serving to define the extent of inactive movement of the rod-cperating means in said slot,

ber, whereby. to establishlaifixed; limit of movement of therod in one direction.

10. Ina machine for simultaneously. filling a relatively. large number'of} molds with a semifluidmate'rial, the. combination of a body having at eachof theopposite sidesof a center line two series'of cylinders each series being arranged; in. planes one above the other, valve plugs in saidbody, one. for each series of cylinders and arranged perpendicular to said cylinders, each;

. plug having valve openings corresponding to; said cylinders, thepair of plugvalves for; the upper two series of cylinders being spaced: from the center line a greater; distance than the painof plugvalves for; the lower series of cylinders, the inner 'ends of allthe cylinders being at substantiallythe same point relative to their respective valves, pistons in all said cylinders, and means causing all said pistons to travel to t e inner ends ofzal l' said cylinders'regardless, of stroke adjustment of said pistons.

11. In a machine for simultaneously .filling a relativelylarg'e. number of molds with asem-is.

fluid materialythe combinationflof a body having at each of theopposite sides of a center line two series of cylinders, each series being arranged in planes one above the other, valve plugs in said body, one for-each series of cylinders. and arranged perpendicular to said cylinders, each plug having valve. openings corresponding to said' cylinders, means for-gactuatin'g all said valves in unison, the pair of. plug; valves for theupper two. I

series-o f cylinders being spaced from the centerline a greater distance than 'the pair of plug valves forthe lower series of cylinders, the inner ends of all the cylinders being at substantially thesameipoint relative to their respective valves, plstonsin all said cylinders, and means causing all said pistons to travel to the inner ends of all said cylinders regardless of stroke adjustment ders, eachplug having valve openings corre-' spondingto said cylinders, the pair of plug valves for the upper two series of cylinders being spaced from the center line a greater distance than the pair of plug'v'alves for the lower. series of cylinders, the inner ends of all the cylinders being at substantially the same point relative to their respective valves, pistons in all said cylinders, and means causing all said pistons to travel to the inner ends of all said cylinders regardless of stroke adjustment of said pistons.

13. In a machine for simultaneously filling a relatively-large number of molds with asemifluid material, the combination vof a body having at each of the opposite sides of ,a' center line two series of cylinders, each series being arranged in planes one above the other, the individual cylinders in each series being vertically offset, valve plugs in said body, one for each series of. cylinders and arranged perpendicular to said cylinders, each plug having valve openings corresponding to said cylinders, meansior actuating all said valves in unison, the pain of plug valves for the upper two series. of cylinders being spaced from the center line a greater distancethan the pair of plug valves for the lower series of cylinders, the inner ends of all the cylinders being at substantially the same point relative to their respective valves pistons in all said cylinders,

and means causing all said pistons to travel to the inner ends of all said cylinders regardless of stroke adjustment of said pistons.

14; In a machine of the class described, the combination of a casting containing four series of cylinder bores, two series being arranged on opposite sides of a transverse center line,.the two each series, means for rotating said plugs to connect said cylinders alternately with a supply inlet and a discharge outlet, said plugs being located at the same point relative to the inner ends of the cylinders of all series, pistons in said cylinders, and means causing all said pistons to travel to the inner ends of the cylinders regardless of the length of stroke of the pistons.

15. In a machine of the class described, the

, combination of a casting containing four series of cylinder bores, two series being arranged on opposite sides of a transverse center line, the two series at each side being arranged one above the other and the cylindersfof the lower series at each side terminating at a point nearer to said center line than the cylinders of the upper series, a plug arranged parallel .to said center line, for each of the four series, said plugs having a valve opening for each cylinder, means for rotating said plugs to connect said cylinders alternately with a supply inlet and a discharge outlet, said plugs being located at the same point relative to the inner ends of the cylinders of all series, pistons in said cylinders, means causing all said pistons to travel to the inner ends of the cylinders regardless of the length of stroke of the pistons, and means for positively limiting the extent of outward travel of the pistons.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a casting containing four series of cylinder bores, two series being arranged on opposite sides of a transverse center line, the two series at each side being arranged one above the other and the cylinders of the lower series at each side terminating at a point nearer to said ders regardless of the length of stroke of the pistons,- and means for positively limiting the extent of outward travel of the pistons, one adjusting means being provided for all of the pistons on each side of the center line.

RALPH ,B. BAGBY. 

